Okay, so they are not the most exotic locations the United States has to offer, but they are our stops on the fastest route from NY to Seattle. Can anyone suggest places to eat for us. We aren't packing to win any beauty contests, so we are looking for more interesting than fine dining.

Our first stop is Scranton, PA, but seeing as how my in-laws live there. I think we've got it covered._________________"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

All of these places sound like they are on I94. I drove from Seattle to Chicago two years ago with my younger daughter after we bought my son-in-law's Ford Escape for her to use in college. I got all excited for I94, and searched for excellent restaurants in North Dakota. There were three in the whole state, and none in Fargo. In Montana, we stopped in Bearmouth instead of Butte because there is a ghost town about 8 miles up a dirt road that we wanted to see. I remember the local beer, from Big Sky Brewery. Called Moose Droppings. If you have a little time in North Dakota, toward the western edge of the state, there's a small national park where Clark (as in Lewis and Clark) carved his initials and the date 1806 into a rock, which is still very clear. That leaves Rockford, maybe the least interesting restaurant town in Illinois. If you kept going another 90 minutes to Madison, you'd be in business at L'Etoile's. Whew!_________________The goal is to fit it all in.

I have a soft spot for Rockford, with lots of family there. But the big-box studded eight lane roads full of fast food can be daunting. I'd suggest Brio http://www.briorockford.com/ if you are in a small plate with a glass of wine mood. Try Stockholm Inn http://www.thestockholminn.com/ for swedish pancakes with lingonberries. Or Aunt Mary's (and Mary's Cafe - more bakery/lunch place) for more basic bistro-like fare.

Joined: 18 Oct 2004Posts: 1654Location: Within view of Elliot Bay, The Olympics and every ship in the Sound

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:17 pm Post subject:

Thank you Chicagogal, there's hope for Rockford yet! Do you know if Rockford has any dog parks? My Barney will need a bit of playtime after the long ride from Scranton._________________"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

Erin - I've done more eating than dogwalking in Rockford, but this from a friend of mine - hopefully one will work for Barney!

Rock Cut State Park is great, Sinnissippi Park down by the river is nice too - great bike path (Central). Anna Page Park (W) is a nice forest preserve. I justsearched google and found that Rockford has two dog parks - on either
side of town where she can let the dog off leash.